Screwless modular fence system

ABSTRACT

A screwless modular fence system includes elongated rail segments  414, 412, 410, 408, 406, 404, 400  that connect to fence posts  200 . When connected, they hold boards  300, 302 , or  304  in place. The rails are held together by corner brackets that slide into the rails and fence posts. When in place, the fence panels are then held together by nuts that slide through the fence post rails and are attached by a fastener slid through the opening of the nut and fence post. Fence cap completes the connection by locking the nut and other components in place.

BACKGROUND

Regular fence construction allows for variety of fence designs that one can think of but does not allow for easy changes to the design after the construction of the fence.

One can have a horizontal or vertical fence design by choosing boards or slats that are placed in the desired direction. However, once a decision is made, it isn't easy to change from horizontal to vertical due to posts and fence panels being fastened by various devices.

Presently there is no solution for giving one easy interchangeable options of the fence design after the fence is installed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems by providing an interchangeable screwless modular fence system with specially designed elongated rail segments, corner brackets, nut & faster, and fence posts that allow for easily changing the fence design after the fence has been installed.

The screwless modular fence system consists of rails with interior notches running through the length of the rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows three examples of how the present invention can be used to construct fence panels.

FIG. 2 illustrates one of the embodiments and all possible components of the invention

FIG. 3 shows the fence post

FIG. 4 is a top view of the fence post

FIG. 5 presents the side elongated rail segment

FIG. 6 shows the top view of the elongated side rail segment

FIG. 7 shows the top/bottom elongated rail segment

FIG. 8 shows the top view of the top/bottom elongated rail segment.

FIG. 9 shows the two corner brackets that can be used.

FIG. 10 shows the side view of the two corner brackets that can be used.

FIG. 11 shows the optional mid elongated rail segment.

FIG. 12 shows the front view of the mid elongated rail segment.

FIG. 13 shows the corner bracket sliding into the elongated rail segment.

FIG. 14 shows the corner bracket sliding into the fence post.

FIG. 15 shows the fence post and fence cap.

FIG. 16 shows the nut, fastener, and fence post

FIG. 17 shows the fence post, fence cap, and fence nut in the final form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

Various embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter with references to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are presented in the figures. This invention can be embodied in various different methods and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments presented.

FIG. 1 illustrates three embodiments of the invention that can be constructed using boards. Horizontal design 101 shows fence panel where boards 300 are slid through the elongated rail segments, 100 reflects the same fence panel with boards 302 slid vertically through the elongated rail segments, and 102 reflects a combination of vertical boards 304 as well as wooden lattice 306, separated by a mide elongated rail segment.

Fence panels 100, 102, 104 are all connected to fence posts 200 in the same method and have ability to be changed, just by removing top rail 412 and removing boards 300, 302, 304 and flipping them around and re-inserting. After re-inserting the boards, bottom rails 414 and side rails 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410 hold the boards in place and the top rails 412 close them into the fence panel. Post caps 210 close the fence panels into place.

FIG. 2 illustrates all pieces included in a typical method and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments presented. Fence posts 200A play a critical role in holding the fence panel pieces together. Bottom elongated rail segment 412B is connected to side elongated rail segments 400A by corner brackets 500 which slide into openings in both elongated rails segments 412B and 400A. Once these pieces are together, the internal boards can be slid inside and topped with the mid elongated rails segment 414B, followed by lattice 306A and top elongated rail segment 412A.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show further detail of the fence post 200B which plays a critical role in the screwless modular fence system. Rail apertures 200C are shown with the openings that receive corner brackets discussed above. The fence post interior walls 200D are also displayed that strengthen the fence post.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show further detail for the side elongated rail segments 400B which are connected to the posts described above. Notches 400D on top of the side elongated rail segments allow for corner brackets, discussed above, to slide into opening 400F and hold it into place.

Top and bottom elongated rail segments 412B in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are almost identical to side elongated rail segments with the exception of notches that were described above.

All elongated rail segments described above are connected together with corner bracket 500A or 500B in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 . 500A bracket allows for different angles of the fence panel wherein it can be placed on surfaces that aren't even like a hill. 500B bracket can be used for ordinary situations where the fence is being placed on flat ground. The brackets 500A or 500B slide into the fence post described above and elongated rail segments described above. This is demonstrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 , where the corner bracket 500C is sliding into the elongated rail segment 412C as well as the fence post 200E.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the elongated mid rail segment 414B described above. The elongated mid rail segment has rails on both ends which are intended to hold boards and lattice shown in FIG. 1 number 306.

Once all pieces of the fence panel are slid into the fence posts, the last remaining step is to lock the fence panels into place like it's displayed in FIGS. 15, 16, 17 . Fence post 200F has an opening 200G that is intended to take a fastener 600B that goes through an aperture on the nut 600A. Once in place, the post cap 210B can be slid on the post covering the nut 600A and fastener 600B which locks the nut 600A into place which also locks in the fence panels, completing the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A screwless modular fencing system including: a fence panel comprising: elongated rail segments, wherein boards slide into the rails in any desired direction to comprise a fence panel; a fence post comprising: rail apertures on sides where fence panels will be installed to receive the fence panel; a corner bracket comprising: a shape that slides through rails in fence panel and fence post, wherein the bracket is shaped to fit both snugly to support fence panel; a sliding nut comprising: a shape that slides through the rails in fence post after the fence panel to lock the fence panel in place, wherein the nut has an aperture that receives a fastener that also slides through the aperture of the fence post.
 2. A screwless modular fencing system according to claim 1, wherein a second bracket comprising of three pieces can be used when fence panels are installed on an angle, wherein right angle bracket in claim 1 cannot be used.
 3. A screwless modular fencing system according to claim 1, wherein a fence post cap goes over the corner bracket in claim 1 or claim 2 and nut in claim 1, wherein this prevents fastener from sliding out of fence post rail hence locking the screwless modular fencing system in claim 1 in place.
 4. A screwless modular fencing system according to claim 1, wherein the fence rail is aluminum with a u-channel shape with angular inner wall supports.
 5. A screwless modular fencing system according to claim 1, wherein the fence post is aluminum with inner wall supports.
 6. A screwless modular fencing system according to claim 1, wherein a mid elongated rail segment may be installed for additional fence designs. 